Japan's lower house election begins

TOKYO - Voting procedure of Japan's 46th House of Representatives began at 7:00 a.m. local time Sunday.

A total of 1,504 candidates will run for the 480 seats in the lower house election. The ruling Democratic Party of Japan registered 267 candidates while the main opposition party, the Liberal Democratic Party registered 338 runners.

The Japan Restoration Party and the Tomorrow Party of Japan, known as the third forces, registered 172 and 121 respectively.

About 49,000 polling stations across the country opened to voters. The result is expected on early Monday at earliest.

Japan's lower house was dissolved on November 16.